11alpha-ring-substituted-11beta-hydroxypregnane-3, 20-diones and process for the production thereof



United States Patent The present invention relates to novel steroid compounds and is praticularly concerned with Ila-ringsubstituted-iIB-hydrOXYpregnane-S,ZO-diones, the 3,20- bis ketals thereof and a process for the production thereof.

The compounds and the process of the invention are illustratively represented in the following sequence of formulae:

CH3 CH3 Elli/fig @J. i

nd Q1.

wherein R is an alkylene radical containing from two to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, and the attaching oxygen to carbon bonds are separated by a chain of at least two and not more than three carbon atoms and wherein R is selected from the radicals consisting of v I i 2 4 and -0 0H3 These radicals can be further substituted with lower alkyl and lower alkoXy in positions 3, 4, 5, or 6.

The same reaction can also be carried out with other pregnane compounds having non-interfering groups as well as with andr0stane-3,11,17-trione 3,17-bis ketal and etiocholane-3,11,17-trione 3,17-bis ketal.

The new compounds possess valuable pharamacological properties. Particularly, these compounds have vasodilatory, coronary dilatory, as well as sedative and sleeppotentiating and tranquilizing activity.

The new compounds can therefore be used in the treatment of hypertensive states as central nervous system depressants, heart mucle depressants and related conditions in valuable domestic animals.

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared and administered to mammals, birds, and animals,

in a wide-variety of oral and parenteral dosage forms, singly or in mixtures with other coacting compounds. They can be associated with a carrier, whiohcan be a solid material or a liquid, in which the compound is dissolved, dispersed or suspended. The solid composition can take the form or tablets, powders, capsules or the like, preferably in unit dosage form for simple administration of precise dosages. The liquid composition can take the form of solutions, emulsions, suspensions, serurns. or elixirs.

According to the process of this invention, to the lithium Grignard reagent such as Z-pyridyllithium, wpicolyllithium, 2-methoXyphenyllithium or, respectively, substituted Z-methoxyphenyllithium, a-picolyllithium or Z-pyridyllithium, dissolved in an organic solvent, inert to the reaction, such as ether, tetrahydrofuran, benzene and the like, is added 55- (or 5w) pregnane- 3,11,20-trione 3,20 -bis ketal or another selected ll-keto steroid, having no interfering groups or al interfering groups protected. The addition of the steroid is generally made at a temperature between 40 and 30 C., but higher or lower temperatures, not interfering with the solubility of the steroid and reactant, can be used. The time of reaction is usually between 6 and 96 hours, but shorter or longer periods are also operative. The amount of heat evolved in this reaction is rather small and cooling is therefore generally unnecessary. At the termination of the reactor, the solution is generally washed with water, dried and evaporated and the residue thus obtained is purified by standard methods, such as extraction, recrystallization and chromatography.

. The ketal groups of the thus-obtained Ila-substituted steroid are removed by methods well known in the art such as acid hydrolysis, with dilute surfuric or hydrochloric acid, in an organic solvent such as menthanol, ethanol and the like.

The main steroid starting material, 5/3-pregnane- 3,11,20-trione-3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) was prepared as shown in US. Patent 2,897,198, which is the method employed by Oliveto et al. [J.A.C.S., 75, 486, (1953)].

In the same manner, the 5ot-pregnane-3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) has been prepared by reacting allopregnane-3,11,2.0-trione with ethylene glycol in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid monodydrate in toulene solution.

In the same manner, androstane-3,11,17-trione 3,17- bis (ethylene ketal) is produced by heating the androstane-3,l1,17-trione in benzene or toluene solution with ethylene glycol in .the presence of toluenesulfonic acid.

In the same manner, other alkylene ketals of the abovementioned steroid can be prepared by reacting a selected steroid with propylene glycol, 1,2, 2,3, or 1,3-butylene glycols up to glycols having 8 carbon atoms and having the hydroxyl groups on vicinal carbon atoms or on carbon atoms removed from each other by not more than one CH group. 7

The lithium Grignard reagents are prepared just before use in the manner shown in the examples.

Example I Z-pyridyllithium was prepared by adding 40.5 g. (256 millimoles) of 2-bromopyridine dropwise, with stirring, to 200 ml. of 1.3 M butyllithium in ether, cooled to -40 C. in a nitrogen atmosphere.

To the resultant brown solution was added rapidly a solution of 20.9 g. (50 millimoles) of 5B-pregnane-3,11, ZO-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal), dissolved in m1.

of benzene and 250 ml. of ether. The mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 3 days and was then washed four times with water and evaporated to dryness. Trituration of the resultant thick red-brown oil (containing some crystals) with 250 m1. of cold methanol gave 5.28 g. of white crystals of lla-(2-pyridyl)-llfihydroxy-/3-pregnane-3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 219 to 223 C. The methanol filtrate resulting from the trituration was evaporated to dryness and the material crystallized from 250 ml. of Skellysolve B to give another portion of 0.538 g. of llot-hydroxy-(2- pyridyl)-l15-hydroxy-513-pregnane-3,20-dione bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 222 to 228 C. The mother liquor remaining from the Skellysolve B recrystallization gave by chromatography another portion of the desired 11-snbstituted diketal (0.90 g.) as well as 2.9 5 g. of unreacted starting material.

EXAMPLE 2 11 a-(Z-pyridyI)-11p-hydroxy-5fl-pregnane-3,20-dione Z-pyridyllithium was prepared as described above, using 10.3 g. of 2-bromopyridine and 50 ml. of 1.3 M butyllithium in ether. To the Z-pyridyllithium, thus obtained, was added 4.80 g. of 5,8-pregnane-3,l1,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) in 30 ml. of benzene and 50 ml. of ether.

The crude reaction mixture was diluted with water and the organic phase extracted with 3 N hydrochloric acid. The aqueous phase was repeatedly extracted with benzene, and the benzene solutions combined, washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Trituration of the residue with 55 m1. of methanol gave nearly colorless crystals of melting point 222 to 229 C., which were recrystallized from methanol to give two crops of 11u-(2-pyridyl)-1lfl-hydroxy-Sfi-pregnane-3,20-dione as follows: 0.24 g. of melting point 230 to 233 C. and a second crop of 0.31 g. of melting point 222 to 228 C.

A sample of this material was recrystallized for analysis from acetone to give pure 1la-(2-pyridy1)-11[3-hydrox* 5 3-pregnane-3,20-dione of melting point 232 to 234 C.,

XELOH m (1 In the same manner as given in Example 1, allopregnane-3,11,20-trione 3,20-ethylene ketal, prepared by reacting allopregnane-3,l1,20-trione with glycols in the presence of p-toluencsulfonic acid monohydrate, was added to a prepared solution of 2-pyridyllithium to give the corresponding 1 lot-(2-pyridyl)-11B-hydroxy-5ot-pregnane- 3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

By hydrolyzing 2 g. of this material in a mixture of 100 ml. of methanol and ml. of 3 N sulfuric acid at room temperature overnight (approximately 16 hours), there was obtained 11a-(2-pyridyl)-1lfi-hydroxy-M-pregnane-3,20-dione.

Instead of using his (ethylene ketals) of pregnane-3, 11,20-trione or a1lopregnane-3,11,20-trione, propylene ketal, 1,2 and 1,3-butylene ketals; 1,2, 1,3, 2,3-pentylene ketals; 1,2, 2,3, 3,4, 1,3 and 2,4- as well as other octylene ketals of the desired steroid can be used as starting mate, rial in the reaction described in Examples 1 and 2.

EXAMPLE 3 11 04- (Z-pyrz'dylm ethyl 1fi-hydroxy-Sfi-pregnane-3,20- dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal)- A solution was prepared of a-picolyllithum using 6.9 g. of lithium wire, in the procedure shown in Org. Syn. 23, 83 (1943). To this solution was added rapidly a solution of 20.9 g. (50 millimoles) of 5 8-pregnane-3,11,20- trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal), dissolved in 100 ml. of benzene and 100 ml. of ether. During the addition a very small amount of heat was evolved. After the mixture had stood at room temperature (22 to 26 C.) during a period of three days, it was washed (cautiously) four times with water, filtered through sodium sulfate and concentrated at reduced pressure to a thick oil which was chromatographed over Florisil, taking fractions of 1.5 l. as follows:

TABLE I Fraction: Solvent 1 Skellysolve B. 2 2% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 3 5% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 4 10% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 5 25% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 6 Acetone.

Fraction 5 was evaporated and the residue recrystallized from methanol to give 13.44 g. of crude l1ot-(2-pyridylmethyl) 11B hydroxy-5fl-pregnane-3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 148 to 152 C. A further recrystillization of a sample from methanol gave pure lla-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1lfl-hydroxy 5 13 pregnane 3,20- dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 154 to 156 C., rotation [a] 58 (in acetone);

A232, 264 my; a 3775 EXAMPLE 4 11 a- (Z-pyridylmethyl) 11,B-hydroxy-Sfl-pregnaha-3,20- dione A solution of 5 g. of 11a-(2-pyridylmethyl)1lfi-hydroxy-Sfl-pregnane-3,20-dione bis (ethylene ketal) in 500 ml. of methanol was stirred overnight at room temperature with m1. of N hydrochloric acid. The mixture was concentrated to 100 ml. of volume in vacuo and thereupon 200 ml. of aqueous 4% sodium bicarbonate solution was added. The precipitated product was recovered by filtration. Recrystallization from aqueous methanol gave 2.68 g. of l1a-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1lfl-hydroxy-SB-pregnane-3,20-dione of melting point 167 to 172 C. Recrystallization of this material gave pure 11a-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1lB-hydroxy-S/i-pregnane-3,20-di0ne of melting point of to 173 C. after two recrystallizations from aqueous methanol. Rotation of this material was [@1 -10 in acetone.

Analysis.Calcd. for C H NO C, 76.56; H, 8.81; N, 3.31. Found: C, 76.37; H, 9.06; N, 3.39.

EXAMPLE 5 J 1 a- (Z-pyridylm ethyl 11 B-hydroxy-Sot-pregnane-2,30- dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) 5oc-pregnane-3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) was reacted as in Example 3 with a-picolyllithium. The mixture was allowed to stand for 42 hours, was thereupon washed with water and the organic layer filtered through sodium sulafte and concentrated at reduced pressure. The material was two times extracted with 10% acetone- Skellysolve B solution and the extract discarded. The remainder was recrystallized three times from methanol to give 1Ia-(Z-pyridylmethyD-llfl-hydroxy-h-pregnane- 0 3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

EXAMPLE 6 1 1 a- (Z-pyridylm ethyl) 1 fl-hydroxy-Sa-pregnane- 3,20-di0ne A solution of 2 g. of 11u-(2-pyridylmethyl)-1113- hydroxy-5a-pregnane-3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) in 200 ml. of methanol was stirred for a period of 18 hours at room temperature with 50 ml. of N hydrochloric acid. The mixture was concentrated to a volume of 40 ml. in vacuo. After the product was recovered by filtration it was recrystallized from aqueous methanol to give pure crystalline 11a-(2-pyridylmethyl)-11/3-hydroxy-5apregnane-3,20-dione.

In the same manner other alkylene ketals such as the propylene ketal, the 1,2 2,3, 1,3-butylene ketal; the 1,2, 1,3, 2,3-pentylene ketal; 1,2, 2,3, 3,4, 1,3 and 2,4-hexylene ketal; 2,4, 3,5, 1,3, 1,2-heptylene ketal, and octylene ketals in which the ether oxygens are situated on vicinal carbons or carbons separated from each other by not more than one methylene group, of 5fi-pregnane-3,11,20

trionc and 5a-pregnane-3,11,20-trione (allopregnane- 3,11,20-trione) can be used in the reactions, shown in Examples 3 through 6.

EXAMPLE 7 1 1 a- (Z-m ethoxyphenyl) 1 BJzydmxy-SB-pregnane- 3,20-dine 3,20-bis (ethylene 1:61:11)

60 g. of 1-brom-o-2-methoxybenzene and 200 ml. of an approximately 1,2 molar solution of 2-butyllithium (prepared by the procedure of Organic Reactions VIII, 285) were reacted to prepare a solution of 2-rnethoxyphenyllithium [by the procedure of Gilman, Toole and Spatz, J.A.C.S. 68, 2017 (1946)]. To this Z-methoxyphenyllithium solution, at (3., there was added, over the course of 1 hour, a solution of 20.9 g. of SIR-pregnane-3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) in 50 ml. of benzene and 150 ml. of ether. The mixture was then stirred while allowing it to come to room temperature, and was worked up the following day by washing the organic solution several times with water, filtering through anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporating to dryness. The crude extract was dissolved in Skellysolve B hexanes and chromatographed over Florisil using a column of 9 x 40 cm. and taking 1 l. eluate fractions as follows in Table II;

TABLE II Fraction: Eluting solvent 1 Skellysolve B hexanes.

2 Skellysolve B hexanes.

3 2% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 4 2% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 5 5% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 6 5% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 7 acet-one-Skellysolve B hexanes. 8 10% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 9 10% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 10 10% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 11 25% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 12 25% acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes. 13 Acetone.

14 Acetone.

Fraction 8, a residue of 14.290 g., was recrystallized from Skellysolve B hexanes to give 4.46 g. of the starting material, 5Bpregnane-3,11,20 trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 125 to 142 C. The mother liquor from this crystallization was evaporated and the residue recrystallized from Skellysolve B to give 6.30 g. of a mixture of the starting material and lla-(methoxyphenyl)-1lfi-hydroxy-5l3-pregnane-3,20-dione bis (ethylene ketal). This mixture, on recrystallization from Skellysolve B hexanes, gave 1.51 g. of 11OL-(2-I1'lthOXyphenyl)-1lfi-hydroxy-SB-pregnane-S,20-dione bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 195 to 205 C.

Another portion of 11a-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1lfi-hydroxy-5B-pregnane-3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) was obtained from fraction 7 by separating, mechanically, crystals of the starting material from the desired product.

A portion of the thus-obtained material was recrystallized from acetone-Skellysolve B'to give 11a-(2-methoxyphenyl)-11,8-hydroxy-5B-pregnane 3,20 dione 3,20 bis (ethylene ketal) of melting point 203 to 206 C. and rotation [al j+84 in acetone;

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O C, 72.97; H, 8.80. Found: C, 72.66; H, 9.40.

EXAMPLE 8 1 1 a- (2-meth0xyphenyl -1 1 B-hydroxy-Sfl-pregnane- 3,20-di0ne max.

A 271 m o 1980 max.

Analysis.Calcd. for C I-1 0 C, 76.67; H, 8.73. Found: C, 76.24; H, 8.73.

EXAMPLE 9 1 1 CL- (Z-methoxyphenyl) -1I/R-hydmxy-Saregnane- 3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) In the same manner given in Example 7, allopregnane- 3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) was reacted with Z-methoxyphenyllithium to give 11a-(2-methoxyphenyl)- 1lfl-hydroXy-Sa-pregnane-3,20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

EXAMPLE 1O 11 u- (Z-methoxyphenyl) -11B-hydr0xy-5oa-pregnane- 3,20-di0ne In the same manner given in Example 8, Ila-(2- methoxyphenyl) 11/8 hydroxy 5a pregnane 3,20- dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) was hydrolyzed in a mixture of methanol containing hydrochloric acid to give 11oz (2 methoxyphenyl) 11,6 hydroxy 5a preg nane-3,20-dlone.

In the same manner shown in Examples 7 through 10, other alkylene ketals as defined before of 5fi-pregnane- 3,11,20-trione or 5ot-pregnane-3,11,20-trione (allopregnane-3,11,20-.trione) can be used in the before-shown examples to produce the corresponding Ila-substituted 2-methoxyphenyl-1 113-hydroxy steroids.

In the same manner other alkyland alkoxy-substituted ll-pyridyl, picolyl, and Z-methoxyphenyl steroids can be prepared by using selected alkyland alkoxy-substituted pyridyllithium, alkyl-substituted picolyllithium and alkylsubstituted 2-methoxyphenyllithium on 3,20-bis ketals of 5a-pregnane-3,l1,20-trione, 5,8-pregnane-3,11,20 t-rione, or 3,17-bis ketals of androstane-3,11,17-trione or etiocholane-3,11,17-trione.

I claim:

1. A compound of the formula wherein R is an alkylene radical containing from two to 2. 11oz (2-pyridyl) 11B hydroxy-Sfl-pregnane 3,20- dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

3. 11a (2-pyridylmethy1)-11,8-hydroxy-5p-pregnane-3, 20-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

4. llot-( 2-methoxypheny1)-l 1,B-hydroxy-SB-pregnane-S, ZO-dione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal).

5. A compound of the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of wherein R is selected from the group consisting of I CHz \N: \I: and Goons 8 which comprises treating a steroid compound of the formula:

CII; l/\ c R TAU QQU wherein R is an alkylene radical containing from two to eight carbon atoms, inclusive, and the attaching carbon bonds are separated by a chain of at least two and not more than three carbon atoms, with a lithium compound selected from the group consisting of I'll CfHz-Li L1 N N and 30 CH3 and hydrolyzing the thus-obtained bis lcetal to obtain a compound of Formula I.

It). The process according to claim 9 for the production of 11a (2-pyridyl)-l1;3 hydroxy-5fi-pregnane-3,20- dione, in which the starting compound is 5B-pregnane-3, 11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) and the lithium compound is 2-pyridyllithium.

' 11. The process according to claim 9 for the production of 1Ia-(Z-PyridylmethyD-l1,B-hydroxy-5B-pregnanc-3,20- dione, in which the starting compound is S-fi-pregnanc- 3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) and the lithium compound is a-picolyllithium.

12. The process according to claim for the production of 11 x(2-methoXyphenyl)-1lfl-hydroxy-Sfl-pregnane- 3,20-dione, in which the starting compound is SB-pregmane-3,11,20-trione 3,20-bis (ethylene ketal) and the lithium compounds is 2-methoxyphenyllithium.

No references cited.

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,201,390 August 17, 1965 Gunther S. Fonken It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 66, for mucle" read muscle column 2, line 6, for "or", first occurrence, read of line 19, for "al" read all line 28, for "reactor" read reaction line 34, for s'urfuric" read sulfuric line 44, for "monodydrate" read monohydrate same column 2, line 45,

, for "'toulene" read toluene column 4, line 37, strike out "of"; line 43, for "2,30-", in italics, read -3,20 in italics; line 49, for "sulafte" read sulfate column 5, line 9, for "1,2" read 1.2 column 6, line 66, strike out "wherein R is"; column 7, line 25, strike out "20-dione."; line 26, after "3," insert ZO-dione. column 8, line 41, for "compounds" read compound Signed and sealed this 26th day of April I966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

5. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 